Murray State
Akron
'Breds split twinbill with Akron
3/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds won the first game of its double-header 5-3 against former Ohio Valley Conference rival Akron -- as senior pitcher Craig Kraus picked up his fourth win in as many decisions -- but a 'Breds rally fell short in the latter game, as Akron won Game 2 6-5.
In Game 1, Murray State (10-5) game up four hits in the first inning, but was able to hold the Zips (6-6) to a single run, but bounced back in the bottom of the second.
Right fielder Brett Mullins led off by getting hit by a pitch, then left fielder Austin Swain singled him to second. Shortstop Michal Perconte was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and second baseman Seth Hudson sacrificed Mullins in to tie the score. Designated hitter Chaz Ebert was hit by a pitch to load the bases again, and center fielder Tyler Pittman sacrificed in Swain to give MSU a 2-1 lead.
The 'Breds scored again in the fourth inning when Swain beat out an infield single, then went to third on a single by Perconte. Hudson sacrificed Swain in to give Murray State a 3-1 lead.
Akron scored a run in the fifth when Doug Kruthaupt got a leadoff home run, but MSU countered in the sixth when Mullins led off with a double, then moved to third on a sacrifice by Swain. Perconte sacrificed him home to push the 'Breds to a 4-2 lead.
The Zips scored again in the eighth when Shaun Hinssen drew a two-out walk, then went to third on a single by Brian Kimutis. Hinssen scored on a wild pitch to cut the Murray State lead to 4-3.
MSU padded its lead in the eighth when third baseman Alex Stewart led off with a walk, then went to second on a sacrifice by Mullins. Swain and Perconte each walked to load the bases, then Stewart scored on a fielder's choice to end the scoring at 5-3.
Murray State was led by Swain, who went 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Hudson had three runs batted in, while Pittman and Mullins each had doubles.
On the mound, Kraus (4-0) got the win, allowing two runs on nine hits, striking out five and walking one in seven innings. Jon Ross Shelton got his second save of the season, allowing one run on one hit, striking out five and walking one in two innings.
For Akron, Kruthaupt, Kimutis, Kurt Davidson and Marcus Geiselman each had two hits, while Kruthaupt scored twice. Kruthaupt had a home run, while Kimutis had a double.
On the mound, Ross Liersemann (1-2) took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits, striking out two and walking two in four innings. Bob Dubovec came on in the fifth, allowing one run on two hits in 2-1/3 innings. Steve Williams finished the game, allowing one run on no hits, striking out one and walking three in 1-2/3 innings.
In the second game, Akron again jumped out to an early lead, 2-0, in the second inning, but Murray State battled back in the third.
Hudson led off with a single, then Ebert singled him to second. Pittman walked to load the bases, then Griggs walked, scoring Hudson. Stewart slapped a long single to left field, scoring Ebert and Pittman and moving Griggs to second. Catcher Dustin Hennigar popped a two-out double, scoring Griggs and giving MSU a 4-2 lead.
In the fourth inning, Akron tied the score when Hinssen led off with a double, then Kimutis doubled him in. Kimutis went to third on a groundout, then scored on a bunt single by Kruthaupt to knot the score at 4-4.
In the fifth, Akron scored again when Geiselman drew a one-out walk, the Charlie Lenhard singled, moving Geiselman to second. Kimutis singled in Geiselman, then Andy Capraruolo doubled in Lenhard to give the Zips a 6-4 lead.
Murray State mounted a rally in the sixth inning when Ebert hit a two-out double, then Pittman laced a triple to right center, scoring Ebert, but the 'Breds could muster no more runs in the 6-5 loss.
Ebert went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs, while Stewart also went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Griggs and Hennigar each had a double, while Pittman had a triple.
On the mound, Billy Fares (2-2) took the loss, allowing six runs on 13 hits, striking out one and walking one in 4-1/3 innings. Charlie Wade came on in the fifth, allowing three hits in 2-1/3 innings, while West Harris finished the game, getting his lone batter to ground out.
For Akron, Kimutis and Hinssen each had three hits, while Kimutis had three RBIs.
On the mound, Jared Patterson (2-0) got the win, allowing four runs on five hits, striking out five and walking three in four innings. Pat Gliha held it down, allowing one run on three hits in 1-2/3 innings. Darek Stanfield got his fifth save of the season, allowing no hits, walking one in 1-1/3 innings.
"We didn't execute well in the second game," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "We hit a lot of fly balls. We have always competed, but we just didn't execute very well. We've got to do a better job at the plate.
"We have a bunch of kids who want to do the right thing for the team," he said of the smart hitting and manufacturing of runs that seem to be a trademark of the 'Breds. "When you move runners and get clutch hits, that's winning baseball. We can't out-home run other teams; we've got to hit smart, and for the most part, we do that, but we just didn't do that in the second game."
Murray State hosts Akron in the rubber game of the series tomorrow (Sunday) at noon at Reagan Field.
